SPRINT works diligently to coordinate high-quality, cost-effective trips. SPRINT costs vary by team and location, and include these expenses:

• Airfare
• In-country food and accommodations
• Host fees

• Training costs

Additionally, students may choose to have other expenses applied to their SPRINT accounts in order to cover the cost through fundraising efforts. Such expenses might include:

• Immunizations
• Visa applications when required

SPRINT helps coordinate fundraising efforts for students, including support letters and on-campus projects. It’s important to note that ultimately, the cost of the SPRINT trip is the student’s responsibility.
Before airline tickets are purchased, SPRINTers must have at least 50% of the estimated cost of the trip in their SPRINT accounts. After the trip we’ll count up final expenses and produce a final statement. This two-stage process is designed to help students pay for only the actual trip expenses, not more.

If students raise more money than is required for their trips, they may save those funds for future trips or receive a refund if their personal funds were used to pay for the trip. Please note that “personal funds” must be in the form of cash, check or credit card payment from the student. Funds received from parents or others are viewed by the IRS as donations, and cannot be refunded. Please consult with your student or the SPRINT office for more information.What pre- and post-trip training and support does SPRINT provide?Top

Beginning in mid-Winter Quarter, SPRINT trains and equips students through facilitation of group-building training and the SPRINT Training class in Spring Quarter. The SPRINT training manual focuses on effective cross-cultural engagement, learning from local leaders, and the philosophy of the Christian Community Development Association, a partner of SPU’s John Perkins Center. In short, we hope to equip students to engage cross-culturally in responsible, respectful ways, contributing to the long-term work of local leaders through their short-term efforts.

After the trip SPRINT provides opportunities for students to debrief and process their experiences in group and individual settings. Our hope is to encourage students to integrate their SPRINT experience into their future plans, carrying the lessons from the trip well beyond the summer’s experience.

SPRINT seeks to connect short-term teams with long-term local leaders whose work empowers local communities and shares the Gospel in relevant ways. We believe deeply-invested local leaders provide the best possible learning experience for students, allowing students’ short-term work to contribute to ongoing projects that are of genuine value to communities. A list of this summer’s SPRINT hosts is available on our website.

Trip itineraries vary by team and year, and are organized largely around the host’s needs and opportunities for service. Before the team departs for their trip, SPRINT will have a detailed itinerary for each trip. When plans change mid-trip, communication between local hosts and SPRINT ensures that students are cared for, housed, and appropriately involved.Will students be safe? Top

While travel to any unfamiliar location may involve new health challenges, etc., we work hard to ensure students’ safety during their SPRINT experience. Itineraries, accommodations and work projects are coordinated by in-country hosts who understand their communities and are concerned for students’ well-being.

Additionally, all SPRINT participants will be enrolled in an international health insurance plan for the duration of their SPRINT experience.

To further ensure students’ safety, and because teams have great stories to tell, we require teams to report at least weekly via e-mail, phone, or skype to the SPRINT advisor. Follow teams' reports at their blog pages. For more information, contact Owen Sallee, Coordinator for Global and Urban Involvement, at owen@spu.edu.